Transcript: About PEAT

Today, technology is central to getting hired and doing your job, but did you know that technology can also be one of the greatest barriers to the employment success of people with disabilities?

When technology doesn't work for everyone, it becomes a major barrier to employment and career advancement. Some people with disabilities can't get hired if an online job application system doesn't work for them and they can't do their jobs or get ahead if they can't use thetechnology provided in the workplace.

That's bad news, not just for workers but also for employers as it limits their access to a pool of talent. Just think about a veteran with hearing loss who declines a job offer because the corporate phone system can't be adjusted for their use. Or a top candidate who can't complete an online job application because the "submit" button isn't properly labeled for someone with low vision.

It doesn't have to be this way. Implementing change is probably easier than you think and just imagine the value that comes with creating and adopting technology that's flexible enough to work for everyone.

When technology is accessible and better yet, universally designed, it becomes a powerful tool for creating a productive and inclusive workforce. This is the goal of the Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology, or PEAT.

PEAT is an initiativeto help people come together and make technology more accessible for ALLemployees. PEAT is funded by the US Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy and managed by RESNA. PEAT works to help employers, IT companies and others understand why it pays to build and buy accessible technology and how todo so.

On our website, you'll find a wealth of resources and collaborative opportunities. One example is TalentWorks, a tool that helps employers make their online job applications and other recruiting tools accessible. And everything we offer is always free to everyone. We work with subject matter experts and industry partners nationwide through in-person and online events and then we use what we learn to create resources for employers, companies and individuals.

So, how can you get involved with PEAT? First, sign up for our email list to receive our newsletter and register for free upcoming activities, including our monthly PEAT Talks webinar. You can subscribe right on our homepage and while you're there, don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. To learn additional ways to get involved,including joining the PEAT Network and PEAT Policy Think-Tank, go toPEATworks.org/about.

We hope you'll join us in our efforts to make workplace technology more accessible. Thank You.

PEAT is funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, Grant #OD-23864-12-75-451. PEAT material does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.